"I didn't really decide until about 4 o'clock on Wednesday. I had to get off by myself and make the decision for myself. I prayed about it. My parents told me, 'You make the decision for you'," Vernard said Thursday afternoon.

He and brother Vance called lead recruiter Chris Beatty, the recruiting coordinator at West Virginia, about 2:45 p.m. with the good news. Beatty then turned them over to head coach Bill Stewart, who was elated.